This is an installment from contributing writer Tara Thompson, president of the Wilton Newcomers Club, providing news and information about WNC events and activities, as well as a look at life in Wilton life from the point of view of a newcomer.  

My youngest is in kindergarten now. Wait, let me rephrase:

My youngest is in kindergarten!! 

Sometimes, it’s just a matter of emphasis, right? Kinda sums up parenting in a nutshell, and makes me think about all the years my kids were in preschool. We have so many options for preschools here in Wilton–just glance down at the bottom of the right-hand column, below the ads, and you’ll find links to all the preschools in town.

I remember the stress of choosing the “perfect” preschool like it was yesterday. Parents, the first thing you should know is…  There is no perfect preschool.

You are always going to wish drop-off was later, or the school was situated closer, or class size was bigger/smaller, etc. But ultimately, you have to choose one, right? For everyone going through this process, or who will be soon, this is what I learned were considerations after my three kids attended a total of nine different preschools.

Basic Logistics:  Do the location and hours work for you and your child?

Can I reasonably get my child to and from school (mostly) on time? Take a trial run. Do you live in Silvermine but are considering a school in Georgetown? If you have another child, does that mean he will be taking all his naps in the car while you ferry kid number one back and forth… and is that good or bad? Is the program just mornings and you’ve been blessed with a late sleeper and would prefer afternoons? Or do they offer only three days per week but you were hoping for five? Does pick-up time mean you will have difficulty meeting the bus for your older child?

Once the basic logistical decisions are out of the way and your target preschool is a possibility you can move on to…

Structure vs. Free Play:  What is your target preschool’s teaching philosophy, and do you think it would be a good fit for your child?

Do frequent transitions lead to temper tantrums for your child? Is she self-directed and enjoys spending a while on the floor building train tracks or making elaborate art projects? Maybe a school with an emphasis on free play (i.e. not much structured “circle time” and a somewhat relaxed timetable) would be best.

If, on the other hand your child gets bored easily, enjoys following directions and happily jumps from one thing to the next, then a more structured school might be a better fit.

Parental involvement:  How often do you expect to be invited into the classroom?

Some schools allow parents to stay with their child until they are 100-percent ready to separate, while others believe in the band-aid approach. Which would suit your child best? Also, if there are constant opportunities for parents to come into the school, will your schedule allow it and do you think your child will do well if parents are often in the classroom? If you have other kids, are they included too or will you have to find childcare for them?

Extras:  What else do they have to offer, now and in later years?

If you are looking into preschool for your 2-year-old, don’t forget to ask about what they offer down the road if you choose to stay at the same school in the next couple of years. Is there an extended day or lunch-bunch program that might help you gain some extra time for errands and taking care of your other children, or will just help your child get acclimated to a longer kindergarten day.

Are there field trips, foreign language instruction, etc? And, given our New England winters, is there a drive-up drop-off line so you can roll up to preschool in your pajamas instead of a parka and snow boots while the teacher takes your child from the car? (This was especially helpful for me when I had kid no. 2 and kid no. 3, who weren’t ready for preschool yet, along for the ride in the car.)

5’s program:  Is there an option to remain in preschool if your child isn’t quite ready for kindergarten?

Connecticut currently has one of the latest school-age cut-off dates in the country–Dec. 31. If you have a “ber” baby–born in October, November or December–many parents choose to delay kindergarten and send their child (especially boys) to a preschool 5’s program instead.

Parent Socials:  Are there opportunities for you to meet & mingle with other parents?

Believe it or not, you might emerge from the preschool years with as many new friends as your child. Are there committees you can volunteer for? Do they facilitate morning coffees, ladies nights out, couples socials? During pick-up, can you linger while chatting with other parents, maybe making plans for a playdate later? Having young kids comes with a specific set of joys & challenges; you will celebrate (and sometimes commiserate) with other preschool parents… i.e. your new friends.

There are many other things to consider when choosing a preschool for your child. We moved to Wilton recently and my youngest, Pierce, only attended preschool in Wilton for five months before heading off to kindergarten. So parents,  don’t stress–your child will adjust and make friends, and so will you, regardless of whether they attend preschool in town.

And of course, there is always the Wilton Newcomers Club to help newcomers get acclimated as smoothly as possible!

These are a few of my suggestions, and I hope you find them helpful. If you have any others, please consider leaving them in the comments below.